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How Developing 'Body-Image Resilience' Can Help You Unlearn Toxic Narratives

We grow up in a world that objectifies us. We learn what makes us valuable and worthy of attention when we're 2 or 3 years old. We discover that we're valued for how we appear, and we judge whether our bodies are good or bad based on the feedback we get from others. That's when self-objectification kicks in, and we become focused on the image of ourselves. Our identity becomes divided and split from the true us — who we really are and what we want to do — because we feel defined by how we look.

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Featured

  Uncomfortable in our skin: the body-image report

More of us than ever hate the way that we look. It’s making us anxious, unhealthy and disempowered. A special report on the pressures distorting the way we think and feel

 If You've Ever Struggled With Body-Image Issues, This Is a Must Read

"My genes just don't want me to be skinny. But if I'm healthy, does being skinny really matter?"

Articles of Interest

The past, present, and future of body image in America

Millennials grew up hating their bodies. Does Gen Z have to be the same?

Body dysmorphic disorder is more common than eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, yet few people are aware of its dangers

While eating disorders have been widely publicized for decades, far less attention has been given to a related condition called body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD. Body dysmorphic disorder is often hidden from public view due to the shame people feel about one or more parts of their body, yet it is a devastating, debilitating psychological condition. People with the disorder suffer from obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors related to their appearance.

Body image issues affect close to 40% of men – but many don’t get the support they need

Negative body image is more than just disliking the way your body looks – its outcomes can often be debilitating. Research shows that, in men, body image issues are linked with lower self-esteem, lower life satisfaction and a lack of confidence.

Body neutrality: what it is and how it can help lead to more positive body image

Body neutrality is sometimes pitched as a “middle ground” between the polarising messages of loving or hating your body. It’s aimed at people who have become disillusioned with the body positivity movement, and those who find constantly loving your body too difficult.

Does Social Media Affect Your Body Image?

What messages have you received from social media about how your body should look?

How much does poor body image affect mental health?

Having concerns about how you look is not in itself a mental illness, but can trigger a range of problems.

How to Tell the Difference Between Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Poor Body Image

And how to get help for both.

I Constantly Teach My Daughters Body Acceptance—but Can’t Follow My Own Advice

With your 9-year-old, I would emphasize that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your body (or any body) as it is, but that you have made a personal decision to have surgery because it will make you feel good.

Instagram can make teens feel bad about their body, but parents can help. Here’s how

The photos or “selfies” posted by celebrities, influencers and even friends on social media may be highly staged and filtered to present the most attractive versions of themselves. Many of these photos are not a realistic portrayal of a person’s true appearance and serve to promote unattainable appearance ideals.

Instagram Makes Teen Girls Hate Themselves. Is That a Bug or a Feature?

The features within Instagram that cause teenage girls to develop negative feelings about their body image may be baked into the very core of the platform, researchers and former employees have said in the wake of new revelations that the company did not disclose what it knew about its impact on young users.

I’m Sick of My Belly Fat—How Should I Deal With It?

You may have heard "stubborn belly fat" is the hardest to lose, yet all the fitfluencers on Instagram have chiseled abs. How do they do it?

Men’s Body-Image Issues Got Worse During the Pandemic—Even if Many Didn’t Realize It

Having a negative body image has long been considered a female problem. Countless books, videos and after-school specials have been devoted to highlighting the concern and the damage it does to girls and women.

Slimming Down Might Not Improve Your Body Image

In a new study, slf-esteem in some overweight girls didn't bounce back, even after their body mass index returned to normal.

Teenage girls, body image and Instagram’s ‘perfect storm’

According to internal research leaked to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the app has made body image issues worse for one in three girls and in one Facebook study of teenagers in the UK and the US, more than 40% of Instagram users who said they felt “unattractive” said the feeling began while using the app.

The ‘perfect body’ is a lie. I believed it for a long time and let it shrink my life

As a child, Lindy West was told she was ‘off the charts’. In this exclusive extract from her new book, Shrill, she explains how society’s fixation on thinness warps women’s lives – and why she would rather be ‘fat’ than ‘big’

Why Do I Hate the Way I Look in Every Photo?

It's not that you're not hot. So... what is it, then?

Your social media ‘fitspo’ is not a good influence

It only takes a few minutes for Instagram to mess with your head.

Resources

5 'Shape' Editors Share How They Really Feel About Their Body

Even in the midst of a body-positivity revolution and anti-diet culture, having honest conversations about our own body can still feel uncomfortable — even for people who work in the health and wellness industry for a living.

Body Image Movement

Founded by Taryn Brumfitt in 2012, the Body Image Movement is on a mission to help people Embrace their bodies. From award-winning documentaries and books to speaking events and educational resources, we take evidence-based insights and turn them into content that is inspirational, engaging and fun!